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MySQL 3.23, 4.0, 4.1 Reference Manual :: 8 Client and Utility Programs :: 8.23 mysql_tableinfo — Generate Database Metadata
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8.23. mysql_tableinfo — Generate Database Metadata

mysql_tableinfo creates tables and populates them with database metadata. It uses SHOW DATABASES, SHOW TABLES, SHOW TABLE STATUS, SHOW COLUMNS, and SHOW INDEX to obtain the metadata.

In MySQL 5.0 and up, the INFORMATION_SCHEMA database contains the same kind of information in the SCHEMATA, TABLES, COLUMNS, and STATISTICS tables. See The INFORMATION_SCHEMA Database.

Invoke mysql_tableinfo like this: 

shell> mysql_tableinfo [options] db_name [db_like [tbl_like]]

The db_name argument indicates which database mysql_tableinfo should use as the location for the metadata tables. The database will be created if it does not exist. The tables will be named db, tbl (or tbl_status), col, and idx.

If the db_like or tbl_like arguments are given, they are used as patterns and metadata is generated only for databases or tables that match the patterns. These arguments default to % if not given.

Examples: 

mysql_tableinfo info
mysql_tableinfo info world
mysql_tableinfo info mydb tmp%

Each of the commands stores information into tables in the info database. The first stores information for all databases and tables. The second stores information for all tables in the world database. The third stores information for tables in the mydb database that have names matching the pattern tmp%.

mysql_tableinfo supports the following options:

  • --help

    Display a help message and exit.

  • --clear

    Before populating each metadata table, drop it if it exists.

  • --clear-only

    Similar to --clear, but exits after dropping the metadata tables to be populated.

  • --col

    Generate column metadata into the col table.

  • --host=host_name, -h host_name

    Connect to the MySQL server on the given host.

  • --idx

    Generate index metadata into the idx table.

  • --password=password, -ppassword

    The password to use when connecting to the server. Note that the password value is not optional for this option, unlike for other MySQL programs. You can use an option file to avoid giving the password on the command line.

    Specifying a password on the command line should be considered insecure. See Section 5.8.6, “Keeping Your Password Secure”.

  • --port=port_num, -P port_num

    The TCP/IP port number to use for the connection.

  • --prefix=prefix_str

    Add prefix_str at the beginning of each metadata table name.

  • --quiet, -q

    Be silent except for errors.

  • --socket=path, -S path

    The Unix socket file to use for the connection.

  • --tbl-status

    Use SHOW TABLE STATUS instead of SHOW TABLES. This provides more complete information, but is slower.

  • --user=user_name, -u user_name

    The MySQL username to use when connecting to the server.